Chinchillas
Disposition: Chinchillas are gentle, curious, intelligent, active
and loyal creatures. Your chinchilla is a very unique pet because it has a
personality all it’s own, which can be enhanced by the way you care for the
animal. First it should have a name. Chins will learn their name and answer to it.
Housing: We sell a variety of wire cages with plastic bottoms
that are suitable for chinchillas. Never use cedar bedding with
chinchillas. Give your chin water in a bottle- not a dish. You may want to
purchase bottled water for it. Keep fresh water in the bottle at all times.
Food: Feed a quality chinchilla food . Your chin should
also have a 1" cube of alfalfa in the cage at all times. Also give it one
raison a day.
Chew Block & Bath : A Purnnice Stone Chew Block should also be
in the cage at all times. Rodents' teeth grow continuously and they need the
chew stone to keep their teeth trimmed down. Your chin
should get a bath daily for about 10 minutes, in a special, Chinchilla Sand. The
chin will bathe itself, but you have to supply the tub and sand; this will keep
you pet clean and healthy.
Handling: Holding a chinchilla is different than most small
animals. It’s ribs can be crushed easily by grabbing it around the
midsection, and you can break bones by handling it by it’s leg. The proper
place to handle a chinchilla is by the tail. It doesn’t hurt the animal, and
you can control it while holding the tail. Once you have hold of the base of the
tail let the chin sit on your forearm, while still holding the tail, then place
the tail between the fingers of your hand that the chin is sitting on.
This is
the proper way to hold and carry your chin. When he gets to know you better you
can let go of the tail and he will sit where he feels most comfortable, on
your arm, shoulder or neck.
Grooming: Every 3 to 4 months your Chin should be groomed to keep
is coat in top shape.
Longevity: If you follow these few suggestions your chinchilla will be happy and healthy, and live for 7 to
10 years.
Elmer's Aquarium Pet Center, 4005 Wm. Penn Hwy, Monroeville, Pa. 15146 (412) 7372-6535,
Daily 10-9:930 Sunday 12-5, Established 1969